--Our parents always want us to become something better, greater. They tell us to hang in there, put in one more hour, one more day. Yet as we run after our newest assignment, or later on in life, after a bigger pay check, we never sit back and think: For what are we doing this? Why are we running around like chickens with their heads cut off, for more money? We could blame it on our parents. Sure. We could blame it on society. No problem.

Why is it so important for our society today to be famous, to be on a big screen or be a billionaire? It’s like the old Greek heroes who ran to their deaths, for “glory” and “fame”. But is that really what gives you joy in life?

Since our lives are so short, we should value them the most we can. That means that we should live the way we want to live, do the things we want to do, and not run after something which will only cause us more grief. There’s always going to be someone there with a bigger pay check then you. That’s why life should be about living your dreams, and having fun. What if fame only brought you despair and problems, would you call that ‘enjoying your life’?

I know that some people measure other people on how much knowledge they have acquired over the years and if they “know anything about the world”. But though knowledge is important, I think that we shouldn’t treat life like a huge puzzle we have to figure out. I think it’s something every single person should handle the way they want and not what society wants from us. A life without happiness would be misty and grey. What would the pay check help, if you were somewhere where you didn’t want to be?

We all look for meaning in life, and often we lose ourselves on the path. That’s why it is important to enjoy it while you have it. Because trust me, life’s shorter then you think.

5) Those born with social and financial advantages have a responsibility

for those who are not.

-Agree

6) Ignorance is bliss.

-Disagree

7) The pursuit of knowledge is a volatile quest.

-Agree

8) Someone's ego will cause a tragic fall.

-Agree

9) Children learn their behaviours by watching and mimicking adults.

-Agree

10) Most people are basically cruel.

-Disagree

--A baby is born. It looks upon its mother’s face and sees for the first time pure love. This tender affection practically radiates of the mother, and the child understands it. As the child grows it is cherished, held closely, for a mother’s love is free. The child knows it and radiates back this tender love between mother and child. Then the child becomes a teenager and contempt rises in his standing and eyes. However there is love always hidden inside him whenever looked closely.

We are not born evil and as my example shows, if nurtured and kept, that little flame of love will stay. However, what would happen if this child was neglected, left alone, beaten, or even orphaned? You think that the child then would show any sort of mercy for other human’s feelings and possessions?

There are many factors which can make a person cruel, and it may not be a person’s childhood. Maybe they become greedy, lose friends, or seek revenge. Maybe they have been shunned so often by society, that in order to protect themselves, they rebuke it with cruelty. I think that there is a glimpse of truth in every person, one just has to look. To say that humans are naturally cruel is like the pot calling the kettle black.

The problem is that polite and loving people don’t end up in the news or are remember in ballads. It is the evil king or monster which we will remember. That is why it may seem that the world is crawling only with cockroaches and evil beings. But looking at it as a whole, I think that the World has a pretty even balance between cruel and loving people.

11) Society makes a person whatever he becomes.

-Agree

12) The "disenfranchised man," who finds himself unable to live within

society for whatever reason, is someone for whom we should feel sympathy or

reverence.

-Agree

13) Rejection and mistreatment can manifest themselves in a person

becoming rage-filled.

-Agree

14) If a person or an animal is treated with cruelty, he will respond to

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Atticus had come with that car of his. Quite surprised me cause I was just enjoying my gallon jug of cherry wine when this rumblin’ came from outside. Soon figured it was a car and I thought that that negro be done for it. But all it was, was Atticus. Set himself up all fine nice and dandy with some light and a newspaper. Right in front of that nigger’s cell. And now we’re all jus’ waitin’. I’ve opened my window as wide as it’ll go and can see all of this square just like them hawks. Well, I sure hope Atticus is reading my Maycomb Tribune. This edition is a fine and nice one, even if I say so myself. Aye, this night will make a good story.Heck Tate was right about tonight. My nose and my bones are just tellin’ me, there’s something ain’t right! And here I am, with my ramblin’ mind and my gallon jug of cherry wine. I was just grabin’ for another pull, when I spot some movement down yonder, at the bank. Well and fry me a cootie, ‘em kids of Atticus’ showed up! Just now, seeked right around that corner! And I don’t believe it, they just following Atticu’s light, well, give me some cherry wine! This ain’t good.‘Em seem puzzled and checkin’ on Atticus he hasn’t noticed a thing! Well, I sure don’t know why he’s risking that neck of his for a negro but I ain’t letting him down. Let’s just hope ‘em kids run off.And to my luck, they get moving away from Atticus and the light. Just right.But then I heard it and ‘em kids heard it too. Cars chockin’ themselves down to my square. Well, I just knew trouble had found feet and now these kids gotta make it all the more complicated. Well, no helping now. Atticus don’t look worried nor does he hurry when those men get out of ‘em cars. A whole pack of ‘em, just after that one negro. Well, my double-barrel sittin’ right next to me if they think they can just make trouble…Well shoot, one of ‘em just asked whether the niggers inside. ‘He is,’ Atticus answered, ‘and he’s asleep. Don’t wake him up.’ Who cares if he’s sleepin’, we just need him and you in one piece, Atticus! That’s when I head that next statement from another one. ‘Get aside from the door, Mr. Finch.’ That got me leaning out the window with my double-barrel, no one knockin’ up Atticus. Not while I’m here. I go him covered.Just then the men seemed to speak even quieter, but good thing no wind stirred.‘Heck Tate’s around somewhere,’ Atticus told ’em and I thought good that’ll stump ‘em, but ‘em smart cause Bragg (the one who had an affair with Miss Stephanie, if that ain’t a story) said, ‘Heck’s bunch’s so deep in the woods they won’t get out till mornin’. Called ’em off on a snipe hunt.’Well, we’ve lost Heck but I’ve got him covered. Atticus got his answer just ready, ‘That changes things doesn’t it?’ ‘It do,’ come form one of ‘em shadows.And I’ll hurl a spitball, that girl gotta bust outa the shadows, right into the middle of that gang! And her brother followed her along with that runnin’ midget. Now, I ain’t got a clean shot. What in the Sam’s Hill!‘H-ey, Atticus,’ that girl shrieked. She’s louder then a shotgun! Well, blow me my rifle! And now they won’t budge. Well, that boy got a stubborn head on him just like Atticus. But anything he says seems to make no difference. Boy wants to stay.Didn’t surprise me when Bragg tried to drag that boy away. Course got ‘em all covered now. But that girl is just nasty! She kick right in the privates! This is sure turnin’ into some fine story. I can see the Headline, Bragg Cracked by Girl.Well, Atticus sure is tryin’ with that boy, but he still won’t budge. Why Atticus even pleadin’ with him. Just took another swing of my cherry wine, since a man pleadin’ with a son ain’t a nice thing to watch, when that girl gets started again. ‘Hey, Mr. Cunningham!’ Lord, she is loud!‘I go to school with Walter,’ she talks out, ‘he’s your boy, ain’t he? Ain’t he, sir?’ Sure, had me off the chair! What she doin’? What she thinkin’! She talking to him like this is some picnic. Well, lookie at that. All the mouths open, they could catch flies. Even Atticus. ‘What’s the matter?’ she squeaked out. Well, that gal got it going. She as in the dark as ‘em shadows.And Cunningham bends down, reassures her with an ‘I’ll tell him you said hey, little lady.’ And tells the gang ‘Let’s clear out!’Gone went those cars, and Atticus looked relieved, but I knew it would end good. Had ‘em covered the whole time. And then that Negro spoke up asking bout ‘em gang.‘They won’t bother you any more’ was Atticus’ answer. Well, and I could support that one. ‘You’re damn tootin’ they won’t. Had you covered all the time, Atticus.’That surprised ‘em.‘Mr. Underwood, you’ve been up there a long time?’ asked Atticus.‘Yes, sir damn tootin’ right. Even saw ‘em kids come up. Had you all covered,’ I declared.‘Well, thank you Mr. Underwood.’‘Ah, no problem Atticus. Jus’ gotta keep ‘em folks in the eye.’ My statement seemed to amuse Atticus.‘You sure did, Mr. Underwood, you sure did.’‘Well, Heck’s gonna be just fumin’. ‘Em tricked him.’ I just couldn’t hold that though, made my insides squirm. ‘Yes, indeed. Well thanks again, Mr. Underwood.’‘Night, Atticus, I’ll keep my eye on that nigger.’With a nod, Atticus turned and left takin’ ‘em kids with him. Turnin’ to my linotype, I put my double-barrel on the floor and started writin’. The Maycomb Tribune had never been so good before, even if I say so myself.

--The use of the words ‘nigger’ and ‘negro’ are not meant to be offensive in anyway and neither are they my own words. However, they are used by the character in the book To Kill a Mockingbird and thus would be out of character not to use them--

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

First of all, every person has the right to be defended in front of a court. I believe it is simply the right of every citizen to get the chance to show his side of the story. Even when the person is unquestionably guilty this does not mean that the person should not be defended. There is a fine line between bullying people and showing that a person is guilty. Also, other things might have caused the murdering or committed crime. For example a person may have been in depression or under the influence of drugs when they committed murder. Even just trying to get free of this person’s mind games or oppression will give the whole case a new twist. Without a defender this person might get the same years like a cold blooded murderer would. Or another example would be how a person smuggles drugs to another country for drug dealers in order to gain a living and reach a new nation. People always have a motivation behind their actions, and maybe the defended can just bring this out into the light to show how the person risked everything, even their freedom for the chance of a better life. Sometimes even a person could be innocent but convicted guilty. This person needs a defendant for sure, even though in everybody’s eyes they have done the crime. Of course sometimes these things can back-fire with mafia bosses and real life criminals slipping out of the net like a wet fish, but this does not keep up with the justice we give to a man who can prove his innocence through his representation in court.

7)Received pronunciation and acceptable grammar are an inclination of one’s intellect.

Disagree:

No, I totally do not agree with this. People with bad grammar might have just been taught that way or never received a really good education. Maybe its not their mother tongue, where it, they could maybe dazzle you with intellectual talk. Sadly many people do judge by people’s way of speaking and grammar. Often people are even bullied or laughed at because of their accents and mistakes in a language. But one must not forget that unlike people have different weakness and sometimes it might be languages. Maybe a person can do a mathematical equation so fast it will make your head spin but can’t pronounce the word capricious. Even people born with a slight or strong stutter can’t be said to have no intellect. They where born with the exact brain as everybody else only they have problem with words. Doesn’t mean he can’t do physics. It all depends on the person. When getting nervous certain type of people stutter or start to make no sense. If I get nervous, my whole sentence structure and ideas sound like jelly! I can understand that it can get annoying when a person can’t tell she and he apart or give a verb the totally wrong conjugation, but that just the way it is. No one is perfect and saying that a person is not the smartest cookie in the world due to their way of speaking is close to discrimination, only through words.

8)If the court system fails society, then society should take law into its own hands.

Disagree:

I cannot disagree with this statement more, simply by the horrific picture it entails. If a murder fails to be locked up, should society kill him? A woman who wants to be divorced should be stoned to death? I believe different cultures will view things differently but I still think the folk should really not do anything in haste. A nation needs order and a set of rules. If these rules aren’t followed chaos will erupt. All people who believe a jury decided wrong will try to change the verdict and put it into their own hands. Even the jury decided fair some person will still think it was wrong! Nobody would be safe anymore, gangs could start popping up. There is a reason to all this slow yet thoughtful process. Actions in haste will never resolute to anything good in the long run. Another problem with this statement is where is the limit? It can be taken from a warning, to a threat, to killing and everybody will think they are in the right, for opinions are as numerous as the stars above. Taking it back to the jury or protesting is the right way to change a verdict. Taking the slow yet through-through way of our nations is the right way to keep order, find justice, and gain the faultless balance between justice and social murder.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

It was December in Moscow. One of the coldest places on Earth. In this city, the icy wind chased people into pubs, embracing glasses of vodka. Only some remained. During this cheerless season, the most famous Elderly Home in Russia was heated beyond bliss. Within it housed well-cared for Elders, or so was believed. Ruling over the estate was the Doctor, an ironic man, wild in appearance and character, with a shocking gaudy taste. This had already been the cause of many complains from the Elders. Yet the Doctor always gave a loving smile and said, “Of course madam, everything for your welfare.” The sarcasm was missed.Then, of course there was the candelabra, the pride and joy of the Doctor. Standing upon the mantelpiece, covered in blood red candles with screaming florescent green crystals. Holders molded into complicated agonized swirls of gold, and above it all the glorified portrait of the Doctor. Sadly no one saw, no one heard, the creak of the candelabra’s turning, the sliding of a wall. Only the Doctor, his faithful assistant Sashkin, and the unlucky Elder upon this night, saw the truth of the matter. Yet this is where the story begins.

Uhov, often taken to the nightly experiments of the Doctor, breaks free from the clutches of Sashkin and escapes. A lone figure in a bleak landscape, he stumbles upon Sasha. Sasha, a reporter, has never had luck in his life yet the night Uhov lands before his feet, he knows he has got the story he was waiting for. Gratitude of a well fed body and believing mind, Uhov tells his story, and the horrors come alive.

Will Sasha find out the truth before Sashkin finds them? Sashkin will do everything to cover his embarrassment of losing Uhov. But is he ready to murder? The clock is ticking as the race begins.

To Sasha’s happiness, it seems as if luck has finally found him and he has no problem to uncover the truth. The Doctor has mishandled the Elders in his home, using them for gruesome experiments of a most evil nature. Alarmed by his find, Sasha notifies the police. The Doctor and Sashkin are put behind bars. The Elders, traumatized by their experience are being helped as much as possible.

Sadly, Sasha is the only one to return to the haunted home. Beholding the candelabra, Sasha smashes against it and the secret entrance behind. Where he is stuck, from now until forevermore.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Here it is again, the shock. Now that we do finally have a German Pope, who not only was a member of the Hitler youth but also one who sets the right rules! On his first travel to Africa, Benedict XVI, declared that condoms are “the wrong tool to avoid AIDS.” In his experience taking cold showers help just as well, which is what our young Catholic Boy Scouts Campers are already learning. “Controlling oneself helps and abstinence is the surest way of protection.” Well, you may be very good at that Pope, but us common folks don’t really want to take cold showers, you know? Of course that caused quite a steer within the midst of our World of Media. “Wait, hold on did he just say…” “Yep, he sure did.” “Oh dear, I bet that’s not going to go down so…” “….Yeah, maybe someone should…” “Way no, he’s going to put us out of business!” Forget it, that’s my comment. And the French number one condom producer thought so too. Not too soon, what did we find on our condom packages? A lovely picture of Pope Benedict XVI in full glory, where every time you are about to use proper protection (heaven safe us) you first have to rip of his head (Amen). Sure is a fine way to make people use condoms (perfect advertising there pope!) but I don’t think Pope Benedict XVI is too happy about that. Since it’s a sin, it shouldn’t really display the Pope smiling, greeting the mass of faithful ones, yelling “I said NO!”